'Covid Not Over Yet': Centre Cautions After Review Meet As China Spike Triggers Alarm

He further stated that Covid-19 is not over yet and that he has directed all the concerned officials to stay on alert and to strengthen the surveillance.

In the wake of rising Covid-19 cases in China, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said that he has reviewed the coronavirus situation in the country along with experts and officials adding that Covid-19 was not over yet and that he has directed all the concerned officials to stay on alert and to strengthen the surveillance.

"In view of the rising cases of #Covid19 in some countries, reviewed the situation with experts and officials today. COVID is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are prepared to manage any situation," he said. 

With reports of a surge in cases in the US, South Korea and Brazil as well, the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a meeting today to review the coronavirus situation in the country.

Health ministry secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday wrote to all states and Union Territories to ramp up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to keep track of any newer variants of the infection.

In a letter to states and UTs, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate undertaking requisite public health measures.

He highlighted that India with its focus on the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour has been able to restrict the transmission of the coronavirus and is recording around 1,200 cases on a weekly basis.

The public health challenge of COVID-19 still persists around the world with around 35 lakh cases being reported weekly, Bhushan said.

"In view of the sudden spurt in cases being witnessed in Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, Brazil, and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network," he said.

"In this context, all states are requested to ensure that as far as possible samples of all positive cases, on a daily basis, are sent to the designated INSACOG genome laboratories that are mapped to states and UTs," he added.